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In line with the on-going issue involving the authenticity of vinegar sold in the market, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) tested samples of this product to verify whether the commonly used vinegar complies with the prescribed standards of quality set forth by FDA.

The FDA Laboratory tested 39 samples of vinegar collected from various sources and five of these, with their corresponding batch/lot number/ best before date/ expiry date, were found to contain synthetic acetic acid:

BRAND AND PRODUCT NAME

Batch/Lot No. Expiry Date/

Best Before Date

Surebuy Cane Vinegar

Best Before Date: 26 03 21

Tentay Pinoy Style Vinegar

Best Before Date: 03 18 21

Tentay Premium Vinegar

Batch/Lot No. TV SEP0718AC

Tentay Vinegar ‘Sukang Tunay Asim’

Expiry Date 06 06 20

Chef’s Flavor Vinegar

8870401

Expiry Date 01APR21

 

The products were subjected to testing of Permanganate Oxidation Number (PON), an AOAC official method of analysis on the quality of vinegar. Following the current Administrative Order prescribing the Standard of Identity and Quality of Vinegar, any artificial matter such as synthetic acetic acid or any cloudifying agent deems the vinegar adulterated hence, it must not be sold to the public.

However, the FDA would like to reiterate that the presence of synthetic acetic acid is not a safety issue and does not pose any health risk to consumers as this only means that the vinegar is of substandard quality. The presence of synthetic acetic acid merely represents that the vinegar did not undergo fermentation, either through a slow process, quick process, or submerged culture process which is used for commercial vinegar production.

All concerned regulated establishments are reminded to follow and strictly comply with quality standards in the production of vinegar. Inspection of manufacturing facility shall be done to further verify whether the producers of the above products use synthetic acetic acid. Appropriate regulatory action shall be imposed on those non-compliant establishments found violating current standards, rules, and regulations of the FDA.

FDA Advisory No. 2019-144